Commuting to work is a pain to begin with, but pregnancy can makes things even more complicated. Pregnancy and stress don’t mix well; unfortunately, commuting and stress do. Add the possibility of being far from home when your water breaks or complications arise, and the stress compounds. Here are some tips for keeping commuting stress to a minimum.
Stay comfortable.
If you have a long drive to work, just sitting in the car for an extended amount of time can make you sore, especially in the third trimester when pelvic, hip and joint pain are common due to the hormone relaxin. Chances are your commute is long enough to make you uncomfortable, but not long enough to warrant a stop to stretch, so the solution is to make your seat more comfortable. Now would be the time to invest in a seat cushion or support pillow that will improve your posture and support your back while you’re behind the wheel. Look for something with adjustable lumbar support. If you can’t afford a pillow, rolling up a beach towel and adjusting it behind your lower back can help. Your car may also offer lumbar support in the driver seat. If you’re not sure, check the manual. Some cars have a lever on the side of the seat back that will add additional lumbar support. Make sure you sit up tall. Adjust your wheel, seat and mirrors so that you can reach and see everything without slouching or stretching, which will only strain you over time.
Stay cool.
Are you an aggressive driver? Curb your anger and your stress by making your drive a little more calm. Give yourself extra time to get to work so traffic jams and slow drivers will be less likely to have you seething behind the wheel, or watching the clock on the dashboard while beads of sweat form on your brow. Listen to music that will drown out the sound of traffic and lift your mood. You could even add an aromatherapy air freshener to your car. Just don’t put yourself to sleep!
Stay connected.
Keep a cell phone on you at all times and make sure it is programmed with the numbers of your hospital and your doctor, as well as all family members or anyone else who would need to be contacted in the event that you go into labor. Also make sure that your family knows your route to work in case something happens. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Stay home.
If your work is far away from home and your doctor, monitor yourself closely during the final 2-3 weeks for signs of impending labor. Don’t be afraid to call your boss and start maternity leave a little early. The last thing you want is to be in a different city, during rush hour, while having regular contractions that are 2 minutes apart because you couldn’t bear to take off work.